As I think of things that add technology to my lesson plans I don't always think apps or web sites. The easiest technology is the technology that doesn't need a plug in.
The first technology I use in the classroom is a simple technology of colors. I learned this tool from a occupational therapist that helped me develop way to help students with eye tracking problems. Students have a hard time coping notes from the board and placing them on the paper. As the eyes travel up to the board and back down to the paper, the students loose their place. Many time students give up and just say they cannot take notes when really it is there eyes having difficulty. This tool works wonders and it is in every class that has a white board. As the teacher write on the white board they change colors of dry erase markers they use. This helps the brain quickly track where it was last time the eyes looked at the board. This is also a huge help when the teacher references notes on the board. Instead of just repeating the word and waiting or student to locate the quoted, the teacher can refer to the color it is wrote in. Students can locate the quote much faster thus increasing comprehension.
Along this same concept of helping students transfer information from board to paper is another simple technology that many students can use. Many students have a hard time keeping their pencil on the paper writing in a correct line. Their writing might move down the paper instead of left to right. It help guide their hand is something called raised line paper. The blue line is raised a bit off from the white. Just enough to let them feel a bump as they start to wander away from the row. This really does help students.
Third thing I love is something called fidget rings. They can be found at http://www.fidgetring.com. There are many studies that show fidgeting helps some students keep their body busy so their mind can concentrate. These are wonderful tools that are not distracting to the entire group. I actually want some for myself.
I hope I did this correctly and you enjoyed reading about my low tech choices that still help student in the classroom setting.
The first technology I use in the classroom is a simple technology of colors. I learned this tool from a occupational therapist that helped me develop way to help students with eye tracking problems. Students have a hard time coping notes from the board and placing them on the paper. As the eyes travel up to the board and back down to the paper, the students loose their place. Many time students give up and just say they cannot take notes when really it is there eyes having difficulty. This tool works wonders and it is in every class that has a white board. As the teacher write on the white board they change colors of dry erase markers they use. This helps the brain quickly track where it was last time the eyes looked at the board. This is also a huge help when the teacher references notes on the board. Instead of just repeating the word and waiting or student to locate the quoted, the teacher can refer to the color it is wrote in. Students can locate the quote much faster thus increasing comprehension.
Along this same concept of helping students transfer information from board to paper is another simple technology that many students can use. Many students have a hard time keeping their pencil on the paper writing in a correct line. Their writing might move down the paper instead of left to right. It help guide their hand is something called raised line paper. The blue line is raised a bit off from the white. Just enough to let them feel a bump as they start to wander away from the row. This really does help students.
Third thing I love is something called fidget rings. They can be found at http://www.fidgetring.com. There are many studies that show fidgeting helps some students keep their body busy so their mind can concentrate. These are wonderful tools that are not distracting to the entire group. I actually want some for myself.
I hope I did this correctly and you enjoyed reading about my low tech choices that still help student in the classroom setting.
Denise Reetz
Sparta, WI